Music : Just Enough Education to Perform

In association with Amazon.com

Rating:

- More Mellow than their last but still Enough Rock to Please
About a month after I added Performance and Cocktails (their previous album) to my CD stash - and still riding high on my newfound love for their music - you can imagine the uncontrollable schoolgirlish giddiness that ensued when I came across the newest album from the Brit Rock Trio, Sterophonics...and priced under 10 bucks nonetheless. Okay, so maybe I wasn't exactly hopping up and down frantically in the aisles and shouting "like, oh my God!" flapping fellow Best Buy patrons with the unforgiving power of my pig tails....I don't have pig tails - or anything else that would qualify my being a giddy schoolgirl...or a female of any kind for that matter. What I do know is that once again, Stereophonics fails to disappoint. More mellow than their previous release, the Jones Brothers - and the other guy - are still faithful to their grinding guitar rock roots, while tastefully walking the line between indie rock and contemporary pop. An eclectic orchestral and surprisingly spiritual vibe is set by the opening gospel-like choir featured on the first track, "Las Vegas Two Times." Complimented by an occasional, tap-your-toes happy tune, and a sleek-designed semi-atmospheric ballad, Stereophonics newest has Just Enough Of Everything to Please Anyone.

Grade: A-

Peace!

Rating:

- The next album may well decide their fate
On the Stereophonics debut album, Word Gets Around, they achieved a winning combination of powerful, tuneful, hook-laden rock and striking lyrics that gave a glimpse into the lives of real, working class people in the UK. This wasn't grand politics, but stories drawn from real life. The problem with this winning approach is that, if successful, the artist inevitably removes himself from the very envirnoment from which his inspiration was drawn. He is then left to sing about his new environment and we are given a pile of songs about being on the road, being a rock star, and occassionally a glimpse back to the old ground, but now as it is seen from afar. The most striking example of this decline of muse can be found in one Bruce Springsteen. The Stereophonics appear to be headed down the same road. The imagery and lyrical impact are nearly absent from this, their third album. The music still sounds pretty darn good, though, and that can't be completely discounted. The album opens with a crunchy hard rocker, but then settles into a mellower, mid-tempo groove that is really quite winning. This could be the turning point for Stereophonics. Musically, they are still sounding pretty good. Lyrically, they are lost in the hotels and airports of their new life. The next album may well decide their fate.

Rating:

- Why do the great cds get no radio play?
This album is the 3rd album from the british band Stereophonics. Year after year, crappy bands that have one hit on their entire album are played. Think of Oasis with deeper lyrics and more folk music and you get a general idea. The Sterophonics" have brought their best work on this latest album. Songs such as "Nice To Be Out" speak of our faults as humans. "Mr. Writer" is about the bond between every band and music reviewers and writers. Giving praise to a band because they seem to be on top. Then tearing the band down afterwards. "Maybe" and "Have A Nice Day" follow the lines of wishes and dreams. A longing to belong and be heard. Later on in the album, singer Kelly Jones imagines working as an armored truck driver in "Everyday I Think Of Money." With dillusions of taking all that money. This album ranks up in the top 10 of 2000.

Rating:

- A big dissapointment
I thought this was going to be the best stereophonics album yet after waiting for it for so long,boy i was wrong. This album isn't stereophonics its mostly just Kelly Jones.most are acoustic songs which are boring apart from "step on my old sizes nines"When Kelly Jones picks up his electric guitar the album becomes alot more stronger with the likes of"vegas two times" the first single "mr writer" and the best track on the album"watch them fly sunday/rooftop"Those songs are brilliant its a pity the rest of the album isn't like that. And the new single "have a nice day"is the lamest single they have ever brought out. When they perform rock songs they are superb but if their next album is going to be like this,you can forget me buying it. On the whole very dissapointing

Rating:

- What never was
If you fancy a lead singer who sounds like he has a chronic case of strep throat, then this is the CD you've been looking for. The Rod Stewart comparisons are off the mark. The lyrics and melodies seem fine, but it's not easy to get past that irritating voice. This band needs to find a new singer!

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